Let's just hope the architect he hired is better than the arsonist he hired.

I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!

To say the very least, I hope that they find out who started the fire.

http://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/index ... 59166040179380.xml&coll=3

111 First St. fire called suspicious
Monday, September 25, 2006
By CRAIG GARRETSON
ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITOR -Jersey Journal

A basement fire at a former Jersey City artists' colony is getting a close look from arson investigators, authorities said yesterday.

The fire in the basement at 111 First St. was reported at two minutes after midnight Saturday morning, Jersey City Fire Department spokesman Andrew Johnson said.

"It didn't start where a fire would normally start," Johnson said. "This building was locked up tight and that basement was not easy to get into."

The former P. Lorillard tobacco building had been converted 15 years ago into studios for scores of artists. However, it had been vacant since March 2005, after owner Lloyd Goldman struck a deal with the remaining artists to leave so he could demolish it and build condominiums.

Due to the heavy smoke and the basement's large size and "maze-like construction," Johnson said, firefighters had to proceed cautiously through the building. However, no one was found inside, he said, and no injuries were reported to firefighters.

Firefighters were on the scene more than seven hours, Johnson said, shutting down traffic in the area until after dawn Saturday.

"This is a suspicious fire and the investigators have been conducting a number of interviews. I think they have a solid lead as to how this started," Johnson said, but refused to elaborate further.